Retirement Trip

Saturday, June 10, 2017

It has been awhile since I have had anything to post. We haven't taken any trips and have stayed pretty close to home. As President of our HOA Board, there are several things going on that I must be involved in although not as much as the previous President. We have a management company and once I was elected President, I made sure there was an understanding that our assigned manager is the manager. While it helps keep Board members available for the big picture, some residents still consider the Board members as the manager of the facility. It has been a learning experience for the residents and a teaching moment for the Board members each time they come in contact with issues from residents. We are changing the culture, slowly but surely.

The Department of the Interior has been ordered via an Executive Order signed by President Trump to review 27 National Monuments and collect public comment to determine if their status should be rescinded. Apparently, President Trump, among others, believe there is a better economic use of the properties in question. Below is the Department of Interior notice of request for public comment. You have until July 10th to respond with a comment. You can comment at:

https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=DOI-2017-0002-0001

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Office of the Secretary [Docket No. DOI–2017–0002] Review of Certain National Monuments Established Since 1996; Notice of Opportunity for Public Comment AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Interior. ACTION: Notice; Request for comments. SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of the Interior is conducting a review of certain National Monuments designated or expanded since 1996 under the Antiquities Act of 1906 in order to implement Executive Order 13792 of April 26, 2017. The Secretary of the Interior will use the review to determine whether each designation or expansion conforms to the policy stated in the Executive Order and to formulate recommendations for Presidential actions, legislative proposals, or other appropriate actions to carry out that policy. This Notice identifies twenty- seven National Monuments under review and invites comments to inform the review. DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments relating to the Bears Ears National Monument must be submitted before May 26, 2017. Written comments relating to all other National Monuments must be submitted before July 10, 2017. ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments online at http:// www.regulations.gov by entering ‘‘DOI– 2017–0002’’ in the Search bar and clicking ‘‘Search,’’ or by mail to Monument Review, MS–1530, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street NW., Washington, DC 20240. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Randal Bowman, 202–208–1906, RR_Bowman@ios.doi.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Executive Order 13792 of April 26, 2017 (82 FR 20429, May 1, 2017), directs the Secretary of the Interior to review certain National Monuments designated or expanded under the Antiquities Act of 1906, 54 U.S.C. 320301–320303 (Act). Specifically, Section 2 of the Executive Order directs the Secretary to conduct a

review of all Presidential designations or expansions of designations under the Antiquities Act made since January 1, 1996, where the designation covers more than 100,000 acres, where the designation after expansion covers more than 100,000 acres, or where the Secretary determines that the designation or expansion was made without adequate public outreach and coordination with relevant stakeholders, to determine whether each designation or expansion conforms to the policy set forth in section 1 of the order. Among other provisions, Section 1 states that designations should reflect the Act’s ‘‘requirements and original objectives’’ and ‘‘appropriately balance the protection of landmarks, structures, and objects against the appropriate use of Federal lands and the effects on surrounding lands and communities.’’ 82 FR 20429 (May 1, 2017). In making the requisite determinations, the Secretary is directed to consider: (i) The requirements and original objectives of the Act, including the Act’s requirement that reservations of land not exceed ‘‘the smallest area compatible with the proper care and management of the objects to be protected’’; (ii) whether designated lands are appropriately classified under the Act as ‘‘historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, [or] other objects of historic or scientific interest’’; (iii) the effects of a designation on the available uses of designated Federal lands, including consideration of the multiple-use policy of section 102(a)(7) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (43 U.S.C. 1701(a)(7)), as well as the effects on the available uses of Federal lands beyond the monument boundaries; (iv) the effects of a designation on the use and enjoyment of non-Federal lands within or beyond monument boundaries; (v) concerns of State, tribal, and local governments affected by a designation, including the economic development and fiscal condition of affected States, tribes, and localities; (vi) the availability of Federal resources to properly manage designated areas; and (vii) such other factors as the Secretary deems appropriate. 82 FR 20429–20430 (May 1, 2017). The National Monuments being initially reviewed are listed in the following tables.

The Department of the Interior seeks public comments related to: (1) Whether national monuments in addition to those listed above should be reviewed because they were designated or expanded after January 1, 1996 ‘‘without adequate public outreach and coordination with relevant stakeholders;’’ and (2) the application of factors (i) through (vii) to the listed national monuments or to other Presidential designations or expansions

of designations meeting the criteria of the Executive Order. With respect to factor (vii), comments should address other factors the Secretary might consider for this review. In a separate but related process, certain Marine National Monuments will also be reviewed. As directed by section 4 of Executive Order 13795 of April 28, 2017, ‘‘Implementing an America-First Offshore Energy Strategy’’ (82 FR 20815, May 3, 2017), the

Department of Commerce will lead the review of the Marine National Monuments in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior. To assist in that consultation, the Secretary will accept comments related to the application of factors (i) through (vii) in Executive Order 13792 as set forth above to the following Marine National Monuments:

Before including your name, address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION [Investigation Nos. 701–TA–558 and 731– TA–1316 (Final)] 1-Hydroxyethylidene-1, 1- Diphosphonic Acid (‘‘HEDP’’) From China; Determinations On the basis of the record 1 developed in the subject investigations, the United States International Trade Commission 1 The record is defined in sec. 207.2(f) of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR 207.2(f)).

Friday, May 19, 2017

Things here in the other Washington, couldn't be better. We have birds chirping in the early morning and a promise of fairly nice Pacific Northwest weather for the next few days.

After completing all of my medical lab work and attending to my Angiography CT scan it is time to return to Gold Bar and wait for a call from the Neurosurgeon.

Most of the time was spent in the setup. The actual scan took mere seconds. The first trick for the attendant was to find a place to insert a needle for an IV while asking me a bunch of questions about allergies and things that might complicate the scan. Then I was invited to lay down on a long narrow table near the device pictured above. The table moved me into position inside the ring and the machine started up with a whirling noise. Then the attendant gave me a small dose of a contrast material that made me warm with the feeling that I was wetting my pants. It also left a metallic taste in my mouth. None of these lasted for more than a few seconds and the whole procedure was done. I sat for a few minutes while they observed me and I was off to the rest of my day. I await the call from the Neurosurgeon's office for my appointment to find out the details of what will occur next.

Things back in the other Washington (DC) aren't so good. We are retired and enjoying life here in the other Washington, though things are getting a little expensive around here. With the exception of utilities, Washington State seems to have a higher cost of living than just about any other state in the Union and it doesn't appear that politicians have enough money as they continue to raise fees and taxes while giving themselves nice little annual raises. I suppose we could move to the midwest but at 70 that isn't an option, I am willing to consider. We will continue to live, travel and enjoy our lives with family and friends while we try to ignore the other Washington.

Tuesday, May 16, 2017

There are times when the best-laid plans of Mice and Ken don't work out the way Ken intended. Mia and I went home Monday because I had an afternoon follow-up appointment with my Doctor concerning an aneurysm found during my little emergency a week earlier. As far as appointments go, this one was fairly quick. The doctor and I discussed what she had done while going over my charts. Apparently, she had a consult with a Neurosurgeon who asked her to set up an appointment with him after I go have some lab work done and another, apparently more involved CAT Scan. Okay, I have no problem with that.

Mia and I planned to return to Gold Bar for another week and enjoy some time away while the construction continues at home. I figured it would take some time to get the call about the CAT let alone actually get it done. We all know how slow the medical field can be at times. Two-thirds of the way to Gold Bar, I get a call from my health provider wanting to set up my appointment for the labs and the CAT scan. While I figured I would be waiting a couple of weeks, the coordinator told be I could get in this coming Thursday. Damn, if only they had called before we left home.

Now the plan is to go back home this afternoon so I can get the labs done early tomorrow morning and then go get my CAT scan Thursday morning. If everything works out okay, we'll return to Gold Bar on Friday.

Saturday, May 13, 2017

May is supposedly the beginning of summer and time to cook (in some cases, burn) meat over a grill. Now is the time to dig out the grill, smoker or fire pit, clean them up and get to cooking some meat. Some say grilling was discovered by Columbus who found natives grilling meat over fires using wooden grills.

There is an argument that meat on a grill isn't barbecue, that the only way to have true barbecue is to slow cook the meat over indirect heat with smoke or no smoke. What does it really matter? The flavors you get from grilling meat on a metal grill over direct heat are different, but in the end, the meat is cooked and has the added flavor from flame broiling.

Unless I am in a hurry, I love to smoke meat in a smoker. To me, slow cooking is the way to go. Most barbecue shops would agree. The BBQ we had in Texas was done in a smoker and was the best that we have found in our travels.

So drag out the grill, smoker, or fire pit and start fixing some goodies.

Friday, May 12, 2017

KFC (the chicken people) have released a romance novella for Mother’s Day, “Tender Wings of Desire.”Nothing says Mother’s Day, like a “$20 Fill-Up” meal and a steamy romance book.“The only thing better than being swept away by the deliciousness of our Extra Crispy Chicken is being swept away by Harland Sanders himself.”

Apparently, Mother’s Day is the single biggest sales day in the world of Kentucky Fried Chicken. More KFC will be sold this coming Sunday than any other day of the year.George Felix, director of advertising for KFC U.S., said in a statement.“So this Mother’s Day, the bucket of chicken I get for my wife will come with a side of a steamy romance novel.

Said to be 96 pages it appears to follow a young Madeline who runs away without leaving a goodbye note for her mother.She finds herself working in a tavern in a harbor town and falls in love with Harland, a customer who is “tall, dressed like a sailor with a striped linen shirt and a woolen pea coat crusted with sea salt.”

I could go on, but I feel some nausea coming on so I’d better stop here.Needless the say, the Colonel is getting his money’s worth because the advertising campaign is working and here I am discussing it on my blog.I love the fried chicken idea for the wife’s Mother’s Day celebration.Just not sure I can celebrate the steamy novel that apparently comes with dinner.

Thursday, May 11, 2017

My mom passed away 35 years ago just after Mother's Day on May 12, 1982. Mom was a tough nut but I don't think I would be the person I am today, if not for her. She put herself in her cooking, baking and family. Like most parents with the missing owners manual, she did the best that she could in spite of many physical and emotional roadblocks. I miss her and often wish she was still here for consul.

Mom didn't like to have her picture taken. In fact, she would do just about anything to keep me from getting her picture. After repeated tries I gave up and didn't try anymore. I wish I had because I have very few pictures of her and the most that I have are before I was around or she was married. She was a very nice looking young lady in her day.

We won't be around a computer tomorrow or Sunday, so I wanted to make sure I included my mom before I leave for the country.

To all the mom's that have gone on ahead of us and those who are still with us, a very, very Happy Mother's Day. And to my loving wife and mother of our children,

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Had nice morning ride to Tacoma to visit the Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist as suggested by the Emergency room personnel who dealt with my little incident last Friday morning. While the CAT scan found nothing wrong with my throat they thought it would be a good idea for me to have a follow-up visit to make sure there wasn't something missed. The sun was out and the view was spectacular from the third floor of the medical center.

After providing a description of the incident and all the details leading to it, the doctor took a look in both ears followed by a quick examination of my nose and throat. Once he was done with those, he decided to do a little more looking. He got out a bottle of what he called deadener and sprayed it in my nose. He said it would taste bitter, and it did. My nose and throat went numb in a matter of minutes.

He then pulled out a device with a tube on it and went on to explain how he was going to insert it down both sides of my nose and deep into the back of my throat to see if there are any problems. He proceeded with very little warning, had me breathing, making noises and panting before pulling it out and announcing that everything looks great.

His diagnosis? Phlegm. (Flem) Apparently, he feels that a ball of phlegm from the drainage the night before was on the voice box and the combination of reclining in the warm bathtub and standing, created a blockage. He is pretty sure it wasn't an asthma attack because untreated an asthma attack would have lasted much longer and would not have calmed down as quickly.

While I still have a lot of congestion, things seem to be getting better. Now all I need to worry about is the next doctor appointment to see what we will be doing about the 4 mm aneurysm they discovered during the CAT scan. So much fun, I can hardly wait until next Monday.